Mets ends three-game slide on strength of starters

Who knew it would be Oliver Perez and John Maine who would pitch six solid innings in their respective outings and allow only two runs apiece, instead of leaders Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey? Maine kept the Reds at bay in a 5-4 win last night.

It’s the bullpen that’s looked a little shaky lately. Usually Fernando Nieve is reliable, but last night he allowed two solo jacks in the eighth inning to spoil a win for Maine. The Mets were saved by a solo shot by Rod Barajas, his seventh in 18 hits. The night before it was Manny Acosta who allowed a walk-off home run to Laynce Nix. Perez wouldn’t have gotten the win anyway, but he still was more effective than Santana and Pelfrey combined. Neither of them made it past the fourth inning in their starts.

It’s good to see that when two starters falter, two more pick up the team. Even though Perez’s outing didn’t result in a win, it still instilled some confidence in him. Hopefully, he can build on that in his next start.

Jon Niese tries to follow suit as he finished up the series with the Reds today at 12:35 p.m.